Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. men, but too few get screened for it due to deeply entrenched barriers and behaviors around seeking health care, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Lorelei Mucci.
Mucci, professor of epidemiology, was featured in a Sept. 1 article in The Educated Patient about the misinformation and stigma driving down rates of prostate cancer screening. One factor, Mucci said, is that many men have outdated information about what screening entails, unaware that it’s “a simple blood test” and no longer an invasive exam. Another is that men tend to be less engaged with their own health care than women. “I think my sense is … that women advocate more for their own health,” she said, noting that men who are married or partnered have higher rates of prostate cancer screening than their single counterparts.
Other socioeconomic factors are also at play. “We do know people who have lower levels of education, less income, people who are not insured, they’re much less likely to get screened,” Mucci said.
To break down these barriers, Mucci offered several tactics. Reluctant or disengaged patients may need encouragement to make a screening appointment from their friends, families, and social networks, and may be motivated by the fact that prostate cancer screening can help not just themselves, but also their sons and brothers. “Knowing your own prostate cancer status is actually really helpful for your loved ones as well,” Mucci said, because family history is a strong predictor of risk. Health systems and care providers can also play a role: Research has shown that low-cost strategies to reach out to patients, such as sending postcard reminders and direct messages over care portals, successfully boosts patient engagement and cancer screening rates.
Mucci added that men who invest in their overall health—getting regular exercise, not smoking, and eating a plant-forward diet—can also reduce their prostate cancer risk.
Read the article:
The Fear, Misinformation and Stigma Behind Prostate Cancer Screening Rates
Learn more:
Healthier fats linked to longer survival after prostate cancer diagnosis (Harvard Chan School News)
Reducing the burden of prostate cancer (Harvard Chan School News)
Does it help to screen for major diseases? Experts share pros, cons, and challenges (Harvard Chan School News)
